Righty Wood to join Rangers in spring camp

January 19th, 2021

The Rangers signed right-handed pitcher to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp in Spring Training, the club announced on Tuesday.

The Rangers also announced the signings of four international free agents, all from Venezuela: center fielders Francisco Laya and Wilmer Castro, right-handed pitcher Alberto Mota and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. Those four signings bring Texas’ total to 23 since the international signing period began on Friday.

Wood, 27, did not pitch in 2020 and was designated for assignment on July 23 by Cleveland. He spent the majority of the shortened season at Cleveland's alternate training site. In ’19, Wood appeared in 36 games between Tampa Bay and Cleveland, posting a 2.98 ERA in 45 1/3 innings.

The Arkansas native also appeared in 29 games, with eight starts, for the Rays in 2018, posting a 3.73 ERA. The Rays’ 29th-round pick in the ’13 MLB Draft, out of Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, Wood broke into the big leagues in ’17 with a single appearance.